Circular-knitting machine



(Nb Model.) 14 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. T. GIFPORD 8: G. H. FRENCH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 438,685. Patented Oct. 21, 1-890.

14 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. T. GIFPORD' 800. H. FRENCH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MAUHINE (No Model.) a

Patented Oct. 21, 1890.

. 14 Sheets-Sheet4. A T. G'IPF'ORD 85 C. H. FRENCH.

( No Model) CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 438,685. Patented 0011.21, 1890.

TRI NORRI! Prrzas co., mow-mm, msnwcrou, 11. 12v

(No Model.) 14 sheets-sheets. A. T. G-IPFURD & C..H. FRENCH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

N0. 438,685. Patented Oct. 21, 1890.

m: NORRIS puns co., mom-mun wasnmcrou, n. c.

(No Model.)

4 14 Sheets-Sheet 6. A. T. GIIPORD & O. H. FRENCH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE No. 438,685. Patented Oct. 21, 1 890.

m N Na; ii w (No Model.) 14 Sheets-Shegt 7. A. T. GIPFORD 8: G. H. FRENCH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MAOHINE.

No. 438,685. Patented Oct. 21, 1890.

MAXMM:

% saw a THE "cams ravens 120., PHOTO-LlTHQ- WASNINGYON, n. c.

(No Model.) 14 Sheets-Sheet 8. A. T. GIFFORI) & O. H. FRENCH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 438,686. Patented Oct. 21, 1890.

6 EIIHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIll llllllllllllllllilllllllllillfiflifll 2 "m: NORRIS PETER! co., mom-mum, msrxmamu, u. c.

(.No Model.) 14 Sheets-Sheet 9. A. T. GIFPORD 8: G. H. FRENCH.

GIROULAR KNITTING MACHINE, No. 438,685.- Patented Oct. 21, 1890.

Cf/YermamEemk n1: mmmu wanna cm, mum-1mm WASHINGTON, n. c.

1N0 Model.) 14 SheetsSheet 11.

A. T. GIPFORD & G. H. FRENCH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 438,685. Patented 00t. 21, 1890.

(No Model.) 14 SheetsShee.t 13. A. T. GIFFO RD & ,0. H. FRENCH. .GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented 001;. 21, 1890.

(No Model.)

' 14 shets-sneet 14. A. T. GIFFORD & C. H. FRENGHp CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 438,685; Patented 0 13.21, 1890.

Tn: mums ravens cm, INOYWLIYMIL, vnsnmmou, u. c.

that class of knitting-machines containing a Ni -TED STAT- s PATENT ()Fr ca ALENZA roirronn ANDOHRISTOPHER HERMON FRENCH, or HOPE- DALE, ASSIGNORS TO THE sHAw STOCKING COMPANY, or LOWELL,

MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,65, dated October 21, 1890. Application filed March 20, 1886. Serial No. 195 ,926. (No model.)

Massachusetts, have invented'an Improve-' ment in Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and'figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has forits obj eot to improve series of vertically-reciprocating needles arranged in a grooved cylinder, and is intended especially as an improvement upon that class of machines wherein the cam-cylinder is at times rotated for the production of circular knitting, and is at other times reciprocated for the production of heels and toes for stockings, the machine being moved for different distances to provide for narrowing, and then for Widening in corresponding manner to form a pouch serviceable in the production of both heels and toes for stockings.

The invention herein contained is intended as an improvement upon the machine described in United States Patent No. 228,480, dated June 8, 1880, to which reference may be had, the aim being to simplify the operation of the parts and cheapen their construction. In the patent referred to those needles which were employed to make stitches in the production of heels and toes, which needles were drawn out of position one or more at a time in narrowing, and again moved into position one or more at a time in widening, were controlled'by levers acted upon by a socalled Jacquard cam, the Said levers beingmounted upon carriages actuated by vertically-movable slides having their feet placed upon the cam-surfaces of a Jacquard pattern chain, the remaining needles, or those drawn out of position for the production of heels and toes, being actuated by a separate 'cam called a working-cam, all the needles being drawn down at the proper time bya needle-depressing cam. In the said patent the so-called working-cam was adapted to and had to be moved radially inward with rela tion to the needles in the needle-cylinder for circular knitting and out for reciprocating knitting, and vice versa.

By the term, circular knitting, hereintdescribed, we mean to imply that action of the machine wherein a circular web is being knitted, and the term reciprocating knit ting we mean to imply that action of the machine when a fabric is being knitted suitable .for heels and toes.

In accordance with our invention all the needles of the machine are actuated by levers mounted upon carriages, the needles allderiving their upward movement from a single cam, called the lever-operating and needleelevating cam,all the needles being depressed by a different needle-depressing cam, both the said cams being carried by one toothed wheel or ring Surrounding the needle-cylinder. The carriages upon which the said levers are mounted are herein shown as of two dif- 7o ferent kinds. The Jacquard carriages, as we shall term them, are those which are moved out of and into operation one or more at a time when reciprocating knitting is being done, or when the heels and toes of stockings are being knitted, and are jointed to fashioning-drivers, which are arranged parallel each to the other in guides, and the said fashioning-drivers are actuated in one direction by the straight bars of a Jacquard pattern-chain 8o and in the other direction by springs. The plate-carriages, as we shall call them, are those which carry the levers to actuate the needles that are to be simultaneously thrown out of action (about one half) when reciproeating knitting is to be done, and into action when circular knitting is to be done, are provided with notches to be entered by lips on a series of segmental plates, and are all moved out of and into operation by the segmental moving levers moving thereon to be struck by the needle-lifting cam, we shall call the stationary carriages, and although the platecarriages and the stationary carriages are herein shown as constructed just alike we shall designate them by dilferent letters. In our invention we have done away with the radially-movin g working-cam described in the said paient. I11 the patent referred to, the needles which were operated to knit only when doing circular knitting were operated bya socalled working-cam, and the Jacquard needles by a so-called Jacquard earn, the socalled working=cam being moved radially out of working position when reciprocating knitting was to be done, there being above the working-cam a drawing-down cam. In case the said working-cam for any reason was not withdrawn at the proper time the needle slides and cylinders were frequently broken and damaged. In this our invention all the needles are operated by levers mounted on carriages, and all the levers are acted upon by the same cam to elevate the needles, and the said cam has no change of position except that due to its travel when knitting. Herein the carriages extend entirely about the needle-cylinder, and some of them are fixed in a given circle, and all the others are made movable radially toward and from the center of the machine, some of the carriages being moved radially in blocks or sections by segmental plates, while others are moved singly by the fashioning-drivers actuated by the bars of the pattern-chain.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a knitting-machine embodying ourinvention, the foot-plate supporting the mechanism for controlling the yarn to be used in the production of a stocking being omitted, part of the frame-work being broken away to show devices covered by it. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the chief part of the machine embodying our invention from the table upward, the foot-plate carrying the yarn-controlling devices being, however, omitted, the said devices so broken off being shown in front elevation in Fig. 37.

'Fig. 3 is a detail in plan view of the yoke and rock-shafts therein, to be described; Fig. 4, a

Fig. 5, a detail of one of the locking-pawls shown in Fig. 2 and its spring; Fig. 6, a detail of the rocking plate instrumental in operating the cam-shifter; Fig. 7 a detail, showing the forward part or head of the yarn-carrier detached from the cam-plate. Fig. Sis a front elevation of ourimproved machine from the table downward, a few of the parts above the table being left projecting above the table, but broken out, the ring for lifting all the needles when the ribbed top is being supplied to them being above the table, this Fig. 8, together with Figs. 2 and 37, to be described, forming a front elevation of ourim proved machine, the Jacquard pattern chains being shown by dotted lines. Fig. 9 is an open or skeleton view showing the chief parts of the machine located below the table, which latter (shown by dotted lines) is supposed to be transparent, all the parts shown in the said figure, with the exception of the stands for holding the latches to rotate the shafts of the pattern-chain cylinders and the bracket for holding the rock-shaft for operating the slotted partial ring, being below the table. Fig. 10 is a partial left-hand end elevation of the machine, chiefly to show the main shaft, the devices thereon, the rack, its track, the pattern wheels, and means to operate them, and the rock-shafts operated by the pattern-wheels, the said figure showing one of the frames for the pattern-cylinder and over which is passed one of the Jacquard pattern-chains, the latter being omitted. Fig. 11 is a section of Fig. 1 in the dotted line 00%, chiefly to show theknitting devices, the parts shown being those located between the top of the flanged ring for holding the cam-plate and the table, the J acquard pattern-chains and their devices, the pattern-wheels, and the gearing for actuating the cam carrying wheel or ring, and the camplate being omitted, the needlelever at the right of the machine (it being mounted upon a stationary carriage) being in position to be actuated by the needle-elevating cam, but the lever at the left of the machine (it being mounted on a plate-carriage) is out of range of the movement of the said cam. Fig. 12 is a partial top view of the cam carrying wheel or ring with the parts attached to it. Fig. 13 is a' detail showing an inner side view of the needle-depressing cams and the bolts to which they are attached, the said cams being removed from the interior of Fig. 12. Figs. 14 and 15 show the cam-hubs for moving the needle-depressing cams as developed or laid out as plane surfaces. Fig. 16 is a detail showing part of the cam carrying wheel or ring, its spring or locking device to hold in place the handles of the cam-hubs for operating the needle-depressing cams. Fig. 17 is an enlarged diagram, taken below the irregular dotted line 00 Fig. 11, chiefly to show the bed in which slide the carriages upon which are mounted the needle-actuating levers, the needle-cylinder, the segmental plates, and some of the means for operating them when it is desired to draw out of operation those needles which are not to be used in the making of heels and toes, the Jacquard carriages containing the levers, which are to operate the needles which are to be used in knitting heels and toes being shown as attached to the carriage or fashioning-drivers, the upper parts of the guides for the drivers being omitted, the table being mostly omitted, the arm of the rock-shaft which ismoved by the slide, to be described, being also broken off to save space on the drawings, as'are also the said slide and two of the guides for the shanks of the segmental plates. Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional detail taken across IIO the guide-plate h7 in the dotted line y, Fig. 17, together with a side elevation of a Jacquard carrriage and part of a needle-lever thereon, a fashioning-driver for the said lever, and a spring for operating the carriage in one direction. Fig. 19 is a partial left-hand end elevation with the parts in a different position from that shown in Fig. 10, the said figure showing the upright shaft and gears thereon for actuating the cam-plate and the toothed plate which carries the cams for operating the needles, the figure also showing the devices employed to operate the shifting-lever of the safety-cam to control the time of the engagement of the pawl for operating the cam that in its rotation raises and lowers the camshifter, so that the latter may be changed only at the proper position of the main shaft, and that at the only time when circular knitting can be changed to reciprocating knitting. Fig. 19 is a partial section of Fig. 19 below the dotted line Fig. 20 is a detail showing a part of thetable with a part of the bed to guide the carriages, the segmental plates for moving out of and into working position some of the plate-carriages containing the needle-actuating levers at that side of the machine where the needles are thrown out of operation entirely and do not knit while heel and toe work is being done, the said figure also showing the block, which carries two of the intermediate carriages controlled by the Jacquard patternchains, part of the driver for holding the said block being broken 01f, the remaining part of the driver being shown fully in Fig. 17, which figure also shows the block in a different position. Fig. 21 is a partial section of Fig. 19 in the line 00 looking to the left, chiefly to show the cam which raises and lowers the cam-shifter, and pawl for moving the said cam, and the safety cam or device for insuring the descent of the said pawl at the proper time when circular knitting is to be changed to reciprocating knitting. Fig. 22 is a section of Fig. 21 in the dotted line 00 Fig. 23 is a partial section of Fig. in the irregular dot.-

' ted line as, looking toward the right. Fig. 23

is a detail of the shifting lever. Fig. 24 is a detail showing part of one of the Jacquard pattern-chains and the devices for operating it, the said figure showing a part of the table. Figs. 25 and 26 are partial sections of the machine in the line 00 M, Fig. 1, the said figure showing parts of the frame or carrier for moving the Jacquard pattern-chain, the devices instrumental in rotating the shaft carrying the chain, which latter is not shown, and means for vibrating the said frame. Fig. 27 is an under side view of the cam-plate for moving the web-holders; Fig. 28, a side elevation ofone of the web-holders. Fig. 29 is an enlarged side elevation of a plate-carriage and needle-lever thereon, the said carriage being not controlled by the Jacquard patterns chain, but rather by one of the segmental plates. Fig. 30 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the needles used in o'urmachine, to gether with the slide to which it is attached. Fig. 31 is a detail, partially in section, of the block, having attached to it, as herein shown, two intermediate carriages and the driver and springs co-operating with it, the said figure also showing the driver-guide and part of the table; Fig. 32, a detail under side view of the block 6', its connected intermediate carriages being broken off; Fig. 33, a detailview of the driver which co-operates with the block, to which are attached the two intermediate carriages; Fig. 34, an enlarged view of the cylinder carrying the pattern-chain; Fig. 35, an end view thereof; Fig. 36, details of the pattern-chain bars and links to show their manner of junction. Fig. 37 is a partial front elevation of the foot plate and standard thereon carrying the devices for controlling the threads used in knitting on their way to the usual thread-guide, the mechanism shown in this figure being that broken ofi from Fig. 1, the dotted line in the said figure showing the thread-guide for the thickening thread for heel and toe work, asin its elevated position. Fig. 38 is a detail showin g the guide through which the yarn is passed immediately before entering the take-up. Fig. 39 is a partial right-hand end view of Fig. 37, chiefly to show the scissors for cutting the thickening-thread. Fig. 40 is a top or plan view of Fig. 37. Fig. 41 is a side elevation of the pattern wheel or device which governs the length of the leg and the tension on the thread used in the leg to fashion the same, the said wheel also carrying a projection to automatically stop the machine on the completion of a stocking, a projection to then start in motion the devices to cut oflfthe thickening-thread, and a projectionto effect the release of the tension; Fig. 42, an edge view of the wheel shown in Fig. 41; Fig. 43, a side elevation of the pattern wheel or device employed to determine the number of reciprocations of the machine in the manufacture of a heel, the said wheel having a projection to determine the time of the introduction of the thickening-thread, and also a projection to determine the time of cutting off the said thread on the completion of the heel; Fig. 44, an edge view of the wheelshown in Fig. 43 Fig. 45, a side elevation of the pattern wheel or device instrumental to determine the length of the foot, it having a cam to regulate the application of tension to the thread used in the foot; Fig. 46, an edge View of the wheel shown in Fig. 45; Fig. 47 a side elevation of the pattern wheel or device used to regulate the number of reciprocations of the machine in making the toe, the said wheel having a projection to determine the time at which the thickening-thread shall be introduced into the foot preparatory to knitting the toe, the said projection also determining the time at which the tension shall be removed from the thread or yarn used in the foot; Fig. 48, an edge viewof the wheel shown in Fig. 47, all

the wheels in Figs.4l to 48 having pins which at the proper times determine the change from circular to reciprocating knitting, and vice versa.

The frame-work consists, essentially, of a column A, having an enlarged foot A, which is bolted to the floor, the said column at top having a table A to the top and under side of which are secured suitable stands or brackets to support the different parts to be described.

The driving-shaft A is provided with a fast and a loose pulley A and A In practice the said pulleys will be constructed substantially as described in United States Patent No. 360,383, dated March 29, 1887, or so as to constitute part of a fast and slow speed mechanism to insure for the said driving-shaft two speeds, one faster than the other, the fast speed being operative when circular knitting is being done or when the toothed gear or plate carrying the needle-actuating cams is being rotated to make the tubular part of a stocking, the slow speed being operative when reciprocating knitting is being done or when the said gear or plate is being reciprocated to produce the heel or toe of a stocking.

. The driving-shaft A at its inner end has fast 011 it a pinion A, it engaging a toothed gear A fast on and rotating the main shaft A the latter having fast upon it a collar A and an eccentric A The shaft A has one of its bearings in a sleeve B, extended through a hub B of a bracket secured to the under side of the table, (see Fig. 19,) where the said hub is represented as partially broken out to show the said sleeve. The sleeve B has fast upon it at one end the spur-gear B having at one side bevel-teeth B, while at its opposite end the said sleeve has fast to it one-half B of a clutch B" B the other half B being connected to a sleeve B, which has attached to it the shifting-cam B the hub of the latter being provided with a pin 13 which is adapted to enter loosely a hole in the collar A fast on the main shaft, the said pin beinglong enough to extend through the said collar when the clutch B is disengaged and to meet a lug or projection B (see dotted lines, Fig. 23) on the cam I3 which imparts motion to the devices for moving the Jacquard chains toward and from the fashioning-drivers, to be de scribed, which move the Jacquard carriages (Z (see Fig. 18,) having mounted upon them the needle-actuating levers 01, the said cam running loosely with relation to the said shaft, the said pin B when in engagement with the said projection, rotating the cam 13 in unison with the shifting-cam B and main shaft A The face of the clutch part 13, next the clutch part B, has a projecting pin 0, that when circular knitting is being done enters a hole in the clutch part B and drives it and the spurgear B the latter, by its bevel-teeth B engaging the bevel-pinion O on the upright shaft 0 provided with the toothed gear C to engage and rotate the wheel or plate (3", which The toothed wheelA at its outer side is furnished With a crank-pin G which has applied to it the link 0-", having its lower end applied to the pin 0 011 the arm D, attached to the reciprocating T-shaped rack-bar D, fitted to slide in or on a track D pivoted at its lower end on a stud D the said track be ing arranged vertically, a part of the arm D embracing the said track, the latter at its upper end being provided with an ear D, (see Fig. 9,) having a pin D, that enters a cam-slot D in the rack-moving slide-bar D fitted to slide horizontally in the guides D attached to the under side of the table A WVhen the clutch parts 13 B are in gear, as in Fig. 19, the slide-bar D is in such position as to cause the track D to be held back far enough from the spur-gear B to effect the disengagement of the rack-bar D from the said gear, and thereafter the shaft C? will be driven, as described, continuously rotating the parts for circular knitting, the rack-bar reciprocating, but not doing any work, the machineat such time being supposed to be running at its fastest speed, the cam B being disengaged from the pin B and at rest, the Jacquard chain, to be described, being also at rest.

To ch an ge to reciprocating knitting, as when the heel or tee is to be knitted, or to narrow and then widen a part of the stocking, the shifting-bar-controlling cam D", on a fixed stud D is moved from its position, Fig. 23, by the pawl E, pivoted to the arm E of the rocker-shaft E mounted in a bearing E (shown det-achcdin Fig. 4,) the said rock-shaft having an attached arm E, which is jointed to a link E, actuated by the eccentric A fast on the shaft A The partial rotation of the said cam D, it having resting against it the pins (1, a extended from the vertical bar E causes the descent of the said bar, compelling the frce end of the cam-shifter E, pivoted at E and forked at its outer end, (see Fig. 23%) to descend and place the finger a there of in line with the projection a of the cam B so that the latter, supposing the parts to be as in Fig. 19 and rotating in the direction of the arrow 200 near the shifting-cam 13 will strike the said finger, and the latter, acting as a stop, will cause the said cam to be moved to the right, viewing said Fig. 19, far enough to disengage the clutch parts B B, cause the pin B carried by the said cam B to engage the lug B", and start in motion the cam B to operate the Jacquard pattern-chains H H. \Vhen the cam B is to be moved to engage the clutch parts B E the cam D will be moved to lift the cam-shifter E so that the finger a thereof will be placed in the range of movement of and so as to be struck by the cam project-ion a of the shifting-cam B which will cause the said cam to be moved to the left, viewing Fig. 10.

The sleeve of the cam B is provided with an annular groove 2, which is entered by a fork 3, provided with a pin 4, which has applied to it loosely a lever E having its fulcrum at E at the under side of the table A the outer slotted or forked end of the said lever engaging a stud E on and moving the slide-bar D 'in unison with and in the same direction as the said cam B the movement of the slide-bar D when the cam B is moved to effect the engagement of the clutch parts B B being such as to pull the track D backward and remove the rack-bar D from its engagement with the toothed wheel B this disengagement of the rack-bar from the said toothed wheel being effected after the partial engagement of the clutch parts B 13 so as to avoid any shock or lost motion when changing from circular to reciprocating knitting, or vice versa, as provided for and fully explained in the said patent.

In the patent referred to the toothed gear for reciprocating the rack is on one shaft, and the rack is moved horizontally. The spur-gear, which is engaged by the said rack to effect reciprocatingknitting, is on another shaft, and the so-called sleeve and grooved disk for moving the shifting-lever is on a third shaft; but herein we have arranged the toothed-gear A the spur-gear B and the shifting-cam B all on the same shaft, so as to turn about the same center of motion, thus greatly reducing the number of the parts, securingcompactness, and simplifying the same. The cam B acts against friction rolls or studs 'on a pinion carrying slide F, held in guideways F F, and adapted to be reciprocated horizontally, the said slide having a stud on which is mounted a pinion F the periphery of which, below its center of n10- tion, engages a stationary rack F which causes the said pinion to be rotated partially as the said slide F is reciprocated. The pinion F above its center of motion engages and reciprocates the rack F in its guide 201, which in turn engages and rotates the pinion F fast on the shaft F having its bearings at F at the under side of the table A the said shaft having upon it an eccentric F embraced by a part of a link F jointed by pin F (see Figs. 24 to 26) to an ear G, extended from the movable frame G, pivoted at G and provided at its upper end with suitable bearings for the reception of thepattern-chain cylinder G ,having an enlarged body, and provided near its ends with pins a (shown in solid black,) to enter the endmost holes a of the Jacquard pattern-chain or surface H, composed, as herein shown, of bars a connected by links b, the ends of the bars being reduced, as at b, and extended through and so as to serve as the connecting pivots for the said links, as shown in Fig. 36. The bars a have a series of holes 19 more or less in number, and distributed over the said bars according to the particular drivers 0 6 ,130 be described,that each bar is to strike and move. The shaft F has at one end abevelgear G which engages a bevel-gear G on and rotates the shaft G having bearings G attached to the under side of the table A the said shaft having on it an eccentric like that marked F on the shaft F, the said eccentric, through a link G moving the frame G pivoted at G, (see Fig. 10,) it having at its upper end a second pattern-chain cylinder or shaft G on which is placed a second pattern chain or surface H, constructed as described of the pattern-chain H.

Fig. 8 shows,the two pattern-chains by (lotted lines. Each cylinder G carrying one of the Jacquard pattern-chains, has fast at one end a pin-wheel H the pins 19 of which are engaged by a pawl H pivoted at H on a bracket H attached to the upper side of the table A by screws H. The bracket H at its rear side has a slotted shelf 202, (see Fig. 25,) provided with a spring 19 to partially bridge the said slot. As the frame carrying the cylinder or shaft G is moved outward or away from the center of the machine by the eccentric and link described, the pawl H in en gagement with one of the said pins, as in Fig. 25, causes the rotation of the wheel H one of the pins 12 (see Fig. 26) passing through the slot in the said shelf as the wheel is rotated from the position in Fig. 25to that in Fig. 26, the said pin carried below the shelf passing at the next backward movement of the frame under the spring 12 thus absolutely preventing any turning back of the pattern-chain. The said slotted shelf forms what we shall call a locking device for the pattern-chain shaft.

In the patent referred to the Jacquard pattern-chains were made of cast-metal bars having elevated cam-surfaces, which by a camlike action on the feet of the slides lifted them vertically to move horizontally the carriages carrying the levers to actuate the needles employed to knit when making heels and toes or narrowing and then widening the stocking, and the said chains were very heavy, requiring a power-accumulating device to start them quickly. Herein each pattern-chain is very light and requires but the minimum of power to rotate it.

The table A opposite each Jacquard pattern-chain has attached to it a guide H (Shown fully in Fig. 1, partially in Fig. 17, and in section, Fig. 18.) The guide H consists, essentially, of an L-shaped bar 10, provided with notches for the reception and guidance of thedrivers 0 0 The drivers 0 are held in the notches of the bar uby the L-shaped cap a, (see Fig. 18,) it forming the top of the said guide H each driver having a collar 6 to form a stop and arrest the outward movement of the driver, the latter being normally drawn outward by a spring 7, attached to the downturned inner end of the driver and to a pin 8 on the lower bar a of the guide 11 the latter being screwed or otherwise firmly attached to the said table A The drivers 0 of each set of drivers are all alike, except to length, and each driver but the one marked to be hereinafter described, is at its front end passed through a socket at the rear end of a carriage (1 which in narrowing and widening is to be reciprocated by the Jacquard pattern-chain referred to.

The needles (Z (ordinary latch-needles) are connected to needle bits or slides d, (see Fig. 30,) which are placed in vertical grooves in the outer side of the stationary needle-cylinder I1 firmly bolted to the table A by bolts H extended upward (see Fig. 11) through holes in the said table and needle-cylinder and into the cylinder-cap H which latter is grooved radially for the reception of the inner ends of the usual web-holders 3 (shown separately in Fig. 28 and partially in Fig. 11.) The lower ends of the needle-slides d rest upon the ends of needle levers a substantially such as represented by like letters in the patent referred to; but herein the said levers are cut from thin sheet-steel, each lever having an orifice a little more than a semicircle, (see Figs. 11 and 29,) the said orifice receiving a correspondingly-shaped projection 203 left to form part of the carriage, the latter being also cut from sheet-steel.

In the patent referred to the levers for moving the needles are pivoted at one side of the carriage, such construction taking up so much space in thickness as to limit the numher of needles that could be employed in a given space; but herein each needle-lever and its attached carriage occupy but one-half the space heretofore required for the carriage and lever described in the said patent.

The Jacquard carriages d are placed in radial grooves in a carriage-guidin g bed or plate I, attached to the top of the table A by suitable screws, as at 10, Fig. 11, and are made to slide backward and forward in the said grooves. This bed or plate I has a raised central body 20%, outside of which, into the path of movement of the cam C extend the outer ends of the levers which are to be struck by the said cam.

I In Fig. 17 the needle-slides are shown in section in the grooves of the needle-cylinder.

In Fig. 11 the stationary carriages d at the right are shown in the position that they will occupy when the needles are to be reciprocated by the levers a th ereon, the outer ends of the said levers being in the path of movement of the needle-elevating cam 0 attached by screw 12 to the bracket 13, secured by screw 14 to the hub of the wheel or plate 0, which hub is embraced by the hub of the spider I, attached to the table. (See Figs. 1 and 11.)

At the left of Fig. 11 we have shown one of the plate-carriages or one of the series of carriages holding one of the levers which co-opcrates with one of the series of needles, which, when reciprocating knitting is being done, as is supposed to be the fact, as shown in said figure, are thrown out of operative position by moving the said carriages inwardly in their grooves in the bed I so far that the needleelevating cam in its reciprocations cannot strike the outer ends of the needle-levers and lift the needles.

The plate-carriage shown at the left of Fig. 11., and also in Fig. 2.), is one of a series of carriages in number equal to about one-half the number of needles used. Each plate-carriage has a notch 15, which is entered by a downwardly-extend ed lip (see Fig. 11) of a movable segmental plate J, there being three such plates shown in Fig. 17, the said plates, when moved radially inward toward the center of the needle'eylinder,pushing in all the carriages engaged by them, about one-half the plate-carriages being so pushed in far enough to place the outer ends of the levers a mounted. thereon, so far in toward the center of the machine as not to be acted upon by the cam (l gand consequently all the needles above the said levers remain out of action while the needles instrumental in knitting the heel and toe are made to operate. Each segmental plate J has a backwardly-extended shank J which slides in a guide-box J and also adownwardly-projecting pin 16, which enters a camslot 17 (shown in dotted lines) in a slotted partial ring J having a stud'lS, over which is placed a link J pivoted at its other end to an arm J 6 of a rock-shaft J having its bearing J attached to the top of the table A by suitable screws 19, the arm J also attached to the said rock-shaft, being forked to engagea pin 20 on the slide D previously described, the movement of the said slide in one or the other direction effecting the movement of the slotted partial ring, which latter acts to simultaneously move out or in all the platecarriages (Z with which the said segments are engaged, the moving in of the said segments and plate-carriages placing the levers thereon out of the path of the cam 0 cansing the needles in line with them to be stopped, and vice versa. The movement of the slide-rod D in the direction of the arrow upon it, Fig. 9, causes the movement of the slotted partial ring in the direction of the arrow 205 near it in Fig. 17, which movement would draw out all the said segmental plates and plate-carriages acted upon by them, leaving their levers in position to be struck by the cam C as when circular knitting is to be done.

At the opposite side of the machine tothat occupied by the segmental plates J is a stationary segment K, it having a downturned lip, (see the right of Fig. 11,) which enters the groove 15 of each of the series of stationary carriages (1*, located at that side of the machine, the said segment being stationary IIO 

